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Highest qualification: MSc (Conservation Biology), DICE, University of Kent
Nationality: South African, Date of Birth: September 1971
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY
Twenty-three years of professional experience in the field of biodiversity conservation, with emphasis on
protected area rehabilitation and management. Eighteen of these years were spent as project leader of
two multi-disciplinary projects in support of National Park management and protection - the North
Luangwa and Gonarezhou Conservation Projects in Zambia and Zimbabwe respectively. Private pilot’s
license with over 4 000 hours experience predominantly accrued during flights in support of park
management operations in remote areas. Currently serving on the steering committee of the Frankfurt
Zoological Society.
Principle Areas of Experience:
 Project Manager – Programme leader for an international conservation NGO – including
management of human resources, development of annual work plans, budgets and third-party donor
funding proposals and reports, high-level government liaison and advocacy.
 Protected area management operations – Emphasis on putting robust management systems in
place in collaboration with Government partners, with special emphasis on developing and coordinating
strategic law enforcement programmes with inbuilt monitoring and feedback, development and
maintenance of infrastructure, capacity building/training, land-use planning, human resources
management.
 Wildlife reintroduction and relocation: Extensive experience in animal relocation, with special
reference to development and implementation of black rhino recovery plan for North Luangwa NP.
PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
October 2007 – to date: Project Leader, Gonarezhou Conservation Project, Frankfurt Zoological
Society, Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe
October 2006 – September 2007: Completed MSc programme in Conservation Management with
distinction at the Durrell Institute of Conservation Biology – University of Kent at Canterbury, United
Kingdom (Awarded the Maurice Swingland prize for best taught-course student of the year)
September 1997 – July 2006: Project Leader, North Luangwa Conservation Project, Frankfurt
Zoological Society, North Luangwa National Park, Zambia
1993 – 1997: Section Ranger, Marakele National Park, SANParks
References and detailed CV: On request
Abridged CV
Hugo F. van der Westhuizen